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Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne 'Eternal source of light divine'

Introduction

The monarch’s birthday was traditionally an occasion for court festivities and one of the main tasks of the Master of the Queen’s Musick was to compose a suitably joyful Ode. John Eccles held this post during the early years of the century, and the papers of the Lord Chamberlain’s office record payments to him for several such compositions. There is no record of the first performance of Handel’s Ode Eternal Source of Light Divine but it was obviously intended for the Queen’s birthday on February 6, most probably in 1713. The author of the Ode, praising the Queen’s virtues as peacemaker, was Ambrose Philips who provided an inspired text (a relatively rare event for what were usually thoroughly obsequious poems) likely to bring out the best in Handel. In its nine movements the work contains much variety, from the gentle pastoral duet ‘Kind health descends’ to the splendidly rumbustious bass solo ‘Let envy then conceal her head’ and the lively alto and bass duet ‘Let rolling streams’. Handel later used this movement’s ground bass, characterised by leaping octaves, in his second Concerto ‘a due cori’. The chorus too has a surprising amount of variety in the repeated refrain ‘The day that gave great Anna birth’ and is also given the opportunity for an echo chorus during the final movement. But it was in the opening movement (one that owes much to the influence of Purcell) that Handel produced his most inspired writing: the famous alto Richard Elford and an obviously fine court trumpeter, supported by sustaining string chords, were provided with ravishing music of quite melting beauty.

The Armonico Consort return to Signum with a new album celebrating the glorious combination of soprano and trumpet in baroque music›featuring the soaring talents of Elin Manahan Thomas and Crispian Steele-Perkins.» More

Let all the winged race with joy
Their wonted homage sweetly pay,
Whilst tow’ring in the azure sky
They celebrate this happy day:
The day that gave great Anna birth,
Who fix’d a lasting peace on earth.

Let flocks and herds their fear forget,
Lions and wolves refuse their prey
And all in friendly consort meet
Made glad by this propitious day.
The day that gave great Anna birth,
Who fix’d a lasting peace on earth.

Let rolling streams their gladness show
With gentle murmurs whilst they play,
And in their wild meanders flow,
Rejoicing in this blessed day.
The day that gave great Anna birth,
Who fix’d a lasting peace on earth.

Let envy then conceal her head,
And blasted faction glide away.
No more her hissing tongues we’ll dread.
Secure in this auspicious day.
The day that gave great Anna birth,
Who fix’d a lasting peace on earth.

United nations shall combine.
To distant climes the sound convey
That Anna’s actions are divine,
And this the most important day!
The day that gave great Anna birth,
Who fix’d a lasting peace on earth.